Happy Tuesday to you, Followers. Hope your week is off to a great start.
As for me, with my first class of the year firmly in the books, I have a few moments to direct my attention away from work to our beloved Cougs.
So, for a few morning thoughts (ouch!) and reflections, read on.
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Followers, those of you who were brave enough to listen to the latest podcast know that I was pretty high on the idea of an upset on Sunday night. And, while my prediction of a 14-17 point slaughter of War Eagle is already starting to shift a bit (you’ll have to wait until Friday to get my true “final answer”….)
Carol Brady and Mrs. Cunningham in the Same Shot was too good to pass up.
The fact of the matter is that I am still having a bit of a hard time understanding what all this Auburn fuss is about. Mind you, I GET that the Tigers are a few years removed from a national championship. I get that they are returning 17 starters. I get that it’s going to be hot and humid. I get that they are an SEC team with SEC style athletes and linemen.
Man, when you see this, its easy to think we're going to get DRILLED, right?
What I don’t understand is why it is that many of us are treating them as if they’re supposed to be a really good team? I mean, whenever I peruse through the Southern newspapers—especially Al.com –I consistently see predictions for this Auburn team that are pretty tepid. In fact, I have yet to find many folks that feel that Auburn is better than a 6-6 team—with 4 of those predicted six W's coming against non-conference opponents. Meaning: There are very few SEC scribes that see this Auburn team winning more than 2 conference games!
So, when I read that Auburn is a 15.5 point favorite over our boys, a simple conclusion becomes evident: People don’t necessarily think that Auburn is supposed to be that good, their predictions are based on the primary assumption that we are going to be that BAD…
And it is within that general framework that I am going to be looking at this game: If our boys are ready to take a major step forward, I think that we will win this game. Conversely, if we are a slightly spruced up version of our 2011 and 2012 teams, another 38-14 opening day type yuck-fest seems like a virtual certainty.
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Finally, given that there are only TWO practices left before the team heads to Auburn on Thurdsay, I thought it timely to solicit your thoughts about what you are the most excited about for the upcoming season?
Are you the most jacked to watch the Hair Raid defense? The play of our defensive backfield? The play of newcomers like Vincent Mayle and River Cracraft? The performance of Connor Halliday after a full off-season of being "the man?"
Feel free to share your thoughts in comments as time allows.
As for me, the clock has just hit 15 minutes, and I have to get to a lunch date with a doctoral student. Ah, the fun of fall has finally arrived.
All for now. Go Cougs.
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